A Stronger Public Health Framework for a Healthier World

MANILA, 11 April 2014 – As the global
burden of overweight, obesity and diabetes grows alarmingly,
the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific
Region has supported a landmark consultation co-hosted by
the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and
the medical and law faculties at the University of Sydney to
explore specific legal mechanisms to address these
challenges urgently and more effectively.

Held at the WHO
Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila from 9 to
11 April, the Overweight, Obesity, Diabetes and Law (OODL)
Consultation – a first in the Region – brought together
public health and law professionals along with consumer
rights advocates and other civil society
representatives.

Chronic diseases – mainly cancer,
diabetes and cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases
– have overtaken communicable diseases as the leading
causes of death and disability in the Western Pacific
Region.

“It’s the first time we’ve convened lawyers,
doctors and public health experts to look for solutions to
this crisis of epidemic proportions in our Region. Besides
the rising numbers of people who are overweight, obese and
living with diabetes, these conditions are increasingly
being seen among children and teenagers,” noted Dr Susan
Mercado, Director, Division of Building Healthy Communities
and Populations for the Western Pacific Region. “This
meeting has clearly articulated the ‘environmental’
causes of overweight, obesity and diabetes. In the past,
these were seen as personal health problems with risks
linked to individual habits. But there’s strong evidence
that these problems are underpinned by an environment
saturated with cheap food products with poor nutritional
value. These products are widely available and aggressively
advertised, especially to children. Governments should
consider a range of options to curb this epidemic, including
regulatory frameworks grounded in evidence. In many
instances, laws are needed to support public health goals.
This is why doctors and lawyers need to team up."

“The
size of the problem is simply enormous,” said Dr Stephen
Colagiuri, Professor of Metabolic Health at the University
of Sydney’s Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition,
Exercise and Eating Disorders, designated as a WHO
Collaborating Centre for Physical Activity, Nutrition and
Obesity. “When it comes to diabetes, the Western Pacific
Region has 138 million cases, one-third of the estimated
global burden of 382 million. China has the world’s
highest number of diabetes cases, over 98 million. Seven
Pacific island nations are among the top ten countries with
the highest diabetes prevalence. It’s a frightening
picture.”

IDLO, based in Rome, works to empower people
and communities worldwide to claim their rights, and provide
governments with the know-how to realize them.

“Health
is a basic human right which must be ensured through a
number of approaches, including the creation and
implementation of effective policies and strong laws,”
explained David Patterson, IDLO Senior Legal Expert, Health.
“There’s no development without social development, and
there’s no social development without health.

Roger
Magnusson, Professor of Health Law at the University of
Sydney Law School, agreed. “When it’s used wisely, law
– including legislation and fiscal policies – can be a
powerful tool that changes the world for the better. Public
health law needs to address the health challenges of today,
and without question that means obesity, diabetes, and poor
diets.”

“Government action is important, of course,
but it’s critical to have an informed and engaged civil
society that understands the importance of a healthy
lifestyle, including diet, and demands laws that protect
society at large, including our children, from efforts by
the private sector and other vested interests to undermine
public health,” emphasized Premila Kumar, Chief Executive
Officer, Consumer Council of Fiji.

The consultation
included group work focusing on four areas: to identify
examples of legal and policy interventions already existing
in the Region that address obesity and diabetes from a
prevention perspective; to address how trade impacts laws
governing food; to identify champions and how to harness
their involvement in this process going forward, as well as
to identify challenges that may crop up in drafting
legislation and how to overcome these obstacles; and to
author technical recommendations on next steps and the way
forward. As well, there were discussions on the investments
needed to help move from words to action.

“Governments
cannot afford to put their scarce resources for health in
the treatment of late-stage diabetes. Families are pushed
into extreme poverty when faced with costs related to
amputations, chronic dialysis and even renal transplants.
Diabetes-related blindness can occur in adults who could
still be productive. There’s an endless list of conditions
linked to diabetes and obesity that cause immense suffering
to individuals and families,” concluded Dr Mercado. “We
need to convince governments and donors alike to invest in
prevention to help reverse this tide, as well as provide
better treatment, care and rehabilitation for those already
affected. We look forward to developing a comprehensive
health strategy to assist countries in addressing these
issues, a strategy that embraces law as an instrument for
protecting the health of all
people."

Nelson Mandela, then Deputy President of the African National Congress of South Africa, raises his fist in the air while addressing the Special Committee Against Apartheid in the General Assembly Hall. UN Photo/P. Sudhakaran More>>